HB52 • 2026

MINORS & PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS

An Act relating to the rights of minors undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at psychiatric hospitals; relating to the use of seclusion or restraint of minors at psychiatric hospitals; relating to a report published by the Department of Health; relating to inspections by the Department of Health of certain psychiatric hospitals; and providing for an effective date.

Children Healthcare Parental Rights

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVES DIBERT, Fields, Foster, Burke, Jimmie, Galvin, Hannan, Josephson, Story, Schrage, Mina, Costello SENATORS Merrick, Giessel, Gray-Jackson, Claman, Stedman, Kawasaki, Dunbar
Last action: 2026-06-19
Official status: VETO SUSTAINED
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text defines 'chemical restraint' but does not explicitly define 'seclusion'; the definition used is based on standard understanding consistent with the context.

HB52: Rights and Safety Rules for Minors in Psychiatric Hospitals

This law sets rules to protect minors receiving mental health care by guaranteeing communication with family, requiring hospitals to report the use of restraints or seclusion, increasing inspections, and mandating an annual public report.

What This Bill Does

Requires psychiatric hospitals to allow minors at least two cumulative hours per week of confidential phone or video calls with parents, legal guardians, or approved adults.
Mandates that hospitals notify the Department of Health and a minor's parent within 72 hours if seclusion or restraint is used on the child.
Orders the Department of Health to publish an annual report online about how often restraints are used and data from hospital inspections.
Requires unannounced inspections at least twice a year for hospitals where minors stay more than three nights in a year.
Directs inspectors to interview at least half of the minor patients during these checks without staff present unless safety is a concern.

Who It Names or Affects

Minors receiving evaluation or treatment at psychiatric hospitals
Psychiatric hospital operators and their staff
The Department of Health
The Department of Family and Community Services

Terms To Know

Seclusion: Placing a patient alone in a room to restrict movement.
Restraint: Using physical force, devices, or medication to limit a patient's freedom of movement.
Chemical restraint: Medication used specifically to control behavior rather than treat an illness.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not take effect until July 1, 2027.
Hospitals may deny communication rights if a court order prohibits it or if the doctor says it is unsafe for treatment.
Staff can be present during patient interviews only if the Department of Health requests their presence to ensure safety.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

AM 1

2258

AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC

Plain English: AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC 2258

The official amendment file could not be read automatically during the last sync, so only the official amendment metadata is shown right now.

Bill History

2026-06-20 3115
(H) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 6/18/26
2026-06-19 Text
(S) JOINT SESSION at 01:00 PM HOUSE CHAMBER
2026-06-19 3101
(H) GOVERNOR VETO SUSTAINED Y36 N24
2026-06-10 3058
(H) 12:55 P.M. 6/5/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR
2026-05-17 2748
(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y32 N8
2026-05-17 2748
(H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y26 N14
2026-05-17 2747
(H) CONCUR MESSAGE TAKEN UP
2026-05-17 2747
(H) CONCUR MESSAGE RECEIVED
2026-05-17 2739
(S) VERSION: SCS CSHB 52(FIN)
2026-05-17 2739
(S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED
2026-05-17 2718
(S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
2026-05-17 2718
(S) PASSED Y20 N-
2026-05-17 2718
(S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS CSHB 52(FIN)
2026-05-17 2718
(S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC
2026-05-17 2717
(S) FIN SCS ADOPTED UC
2026-05-17 2717
(S) READ THE SECOND TIME
2026-05-17 2717
(S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/17/2026
2026-05-16 2685
(S) FN6: (DOH)
2026-05-16 2685
(S) FN5: ZERO(DFC)
2026-05-16 2685
(S) FN4: ZERO(DFC)
2026-05-16 2685
(S) NR: OLSON, KAUFMAN, CRONK, KIEHL
2026-05-16 2685
(S) DP: HOFFMAN, MERRICK
2026-05-16 2685
(S) FIN RPT SCS 2DP 4NR SAME TITLE
2026-05-15 Min
(S) Minutes (SFIN)
2026-05-15 Text
(S) Moved SCS CSHB 52(FIN) Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --
2026-05-15 Text
(S) FINANCE at 01:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
2026-05-13 Text
(S) Scheduled but Not Heard
2026-05-13 Text
(S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
2026-05-12 Min
(S) Minutes (SFIN)
2026-05-12 Text
(S) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Please Note Time Change --
2026-05-12 Text
(S) FINANCE at 01:30 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
2026-05-06 Text
(S) Heard & Held
2026-05-06 Text
(S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
2026-05-06 2493
(S) DUNBAR
2026-05-06 2493
(S) CROSS SPONSOR(S): MERRICK, GIESSEL, GRAY-JACKSON, CLAMAN, STEDMAN, KAWASAKI,
2026-04-24 2340
(S) FIN
2026-04-24 2339
(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
2026-04-22 2264
(H) VERSION: CSHB 52(HSS) AM
2026-04-22 2264
(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
2026-04-22 2263
(H) COSPONSOR(S): JOSEPHSON, STORY, SCHRAGE, MINA, COSTELLO
2026-04-22 2260
(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
2026-04-22 2259
(H) PASSED Y37 E3
2026-04-22 2259
(H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 52(HSS) AM
2026-04-22 2259
(H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC
2026-04-22 2258
(H) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC
2026-04-22 2258
(H) HSS CS ADOPTED UC
2026-04-22 2257
(H) READ THE SECOND TIME
2026-04-22 2257
(H) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/22/2026
2026-03-25 1962
(H) COSPONSOR(S): GALVIN, HANNAN
2026-03-25 1949
(H) FN6: (DOH)
2026-03-25 1949
(H) FN5: ZERO(DFC)
2026-03-25 1949
(H) FN4: ZERO(DFC)
2026-03-25 1949
(H) NR: STAPP
2026-03-25 1949
(H) SCHRAGE
2026-03-25 1949
(H) DP: JIMMIE, GALVIN, TOMASZEWSKI, HANNAN, MOORE, BYNUM, JOSEPHSON, FOSTER,
2026-03-25 1949
(H) FIN RPT CS(HSS) 9DP 1NR
2026-03-24 Text
(H) Moved CSHB 52(HSS) Out of Committee
2026-03-24 Text
(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
2026-03-18 1877
(H) COSPONSOR(S): JIMMIE
2026-03-17 Text
(H) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time Change --
2026-03-17 Text
(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
2026-03-17 Text
(H) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --
2026-03-17 Text
(H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519
2025-05-15 Min
(H) Minutes (HFIN)
2025-05-15 Text
(H) Heard & Held -- Recessed to 8:00 am on 5/16 --
2025-05-15 Text
(H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519
2025-04-30 973
(H) FIN REPLACES L&C REFERRAL
2025-04-30 955
(H) FN3: (DOH)
2025-04-30 955
(H) FN2: ZERO(DFC)
2025-04-30 955
(H) FN1: ZERO(DFC)
2025-04-30 955
(H) NR: PRAX
2025-04-30 955
(H) DP: FIELDS, GRAY, SCHWANKE, RUFFRIDGE, MEARS, MINA
2025-04-30 955
(H) HSS RPT CS(HSS) 6DP 1NR
2025-04-29 Min
(H) Minutes (HHSS)
2025-04-29 Text
(H) Moved CSHB 52(HSS) Out of Committee
2025-04-29 Text
(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
2025-04-24 Min
(H) Minutes (HHSS)
2025-04-24 Text
(H) Heard & Held
2025-04-24 Text
(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
2025-04-22 Min
(H) Minutes (HHSS)
2025-04-22 Text
(H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 3:45 pm --
2025-04-22 Text
(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
2025-04-07 626
(H) COSPONSOR(S): BURKE
2025-04-03 Min
(H) Minutes (HHSS)
2025-04-03 Text
(H) Heard & Held
2025-04-03 Text
(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
2025-03-25 Min
(H) Minutes (HHSS)
2025-03-25 Text
(H) Heard & Held
2025-03-25 Text
(H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106
2025-03-03 283
(H) COSPONSOR(S): FOSTER
2025-01-27 92
(H) COSPONSOR(S): FIELDS
2025-01-22 44
(H) HSS, L&C
2025-01-22 44
(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

MINORS & PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS
An Act relating to the rights of minors undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at psychiatric hospitals; relating to the use of seclusion or restraint of minors at psychiatric hospitals; relating to a report published by the Department of Health; relating to inspections by the Department of Health of certain psychiatric hospitals; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Enrolled HB 52
LAWS OF ALASKA

2026

Source Chapter No.
SCS CSHB 52(FIN) _______

AN ACT

Relating to the rights of minors undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at psychiatric
hospitals; relating to the use of seclusion or restraint of minors at psychiatric hospitals; relating
to a report published by the Department of Health; relating to inspections by the Department of
Health of certain psychiatric hospitals; and providing for an effective date.

_______________

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1

-1- Enrolled HB 52

AN ACT

Relating to the rights of minors undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at psychiatric 1
hospitals; relating to the use of seclusion or restraint of minors at psychiatric hospitals; relating 2
to a report published by the Department of Health; relating to inspections by the Department of 3
Health of certain psychiatric hospitals; and providing for an effective date. 4
_______________ 5
* Section 1. AS 47.30 is amended by adding a new section to read: 6
Sec. 47.30.843. Minors undergoing inpatient mental health evaluation and 7
treatment. A minor undergoing evaluation or inpatient treatment at a psychiatric 8
hospital has the right, unless it is otherwise prohibited by law or court order or 9
considered therapeutically unadvisable by the professional person in charge, to have 10
confidential telephone or video communication each week for at least two cumulative 11
hours with the minor's parent or legal guardian or other adult approved by the 12
professional person in charge. The minor, the minor's parent or legal guardian, or 13

Enrolled HB 52 -2-
another adult approved by the professional person in charge may request the confidential 1
communication. The psychiatric hospital shall facilitate the communication. 2
* Sec. 2. AS 47.32.030 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 3
(e) The Department of Health shall prepare an annual report regarding minors 4
in psychiatric hospitals and, not later than November 1 of each year, publish the report 5
on the department's Internet website, submit the report to the senate secretary and the 6
chief clerk of the house of representatives, and notify the legislature that the report is 7
available. The report must 8
(1) contain information on the uses of seclusion and restraint reported 9
under AS 47.32.200(g), including the aggregate total of the uses of seclusion or restraint 10
at each psychiatric hospital in which minors undergo evaluation or inpatient treatment, 11
and the type of psychotropic medication used, if any, to carry out each chemical 12
restraint; 13
(2) summarize the department's findings from the inspections conducted 14
under AS 47.32.110(d); and 15
(3) contain data on the number of minors who received residential care 16
at psychiatric hospitals, including information provided by the Department of Family 17
and Community Services under (f) of this section regarding minors in state custody who 18
receive care at psychiatric hospitals. 19
(f) The Department of Family and Community Services shall annually 20
(1) collect data on the number of minors in state custody who received 21
residential care at psychiatric hospitals in the state, the number of minors in state 22
custody who received residential care at out-of-state psychiatric hospitals, and the 23
amount of time each of those minors spent at psychiatric hospitals in each of those 24
settings; and 25
(2) provide the data collected under (1) of this subsection to the 26
Department of Health for inclusion in the report required under (e) of this section. 27
* Sec. 3. AS 47.32.110(c) is amended to read: 28
(c) Upon petition of the department with licensing authority for the entity under 29
AS 47.32.010 and after a hearing held upon reasonable notice to the entity, the court 30
shall issue an order to an officer or employee of that department authorizing the officer 31

-3- Enrolled HB 52
or employee to enter for any of the purposes described in (a) or (d) of this section. 1
* Sec. 4. AS 47.32.110 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 2
(d) A designated agent or employee of the Department of Health shall conduct, 3
at least twice each year, an unannounced inspection of each psychiatric hospital in which 4
minors undergo evaluation or inpatient treatment and in which a minor has spent more 5
than three nights in the preceding year. In conducting an inspection under this 6
subsection, the Department of Health shall interview at least 50 percent of the minor 7
patients of the psychiatric hospital. Staff of the psychiatric hospital may not be present 8
during an interview conducted under this subsection unless the Department of Health 9
requests staff presence during the interview to ensure safety. 10
* Sec. 5. AS 47.32.200 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 11
(g) A psychiatric hospital shall notify the Department of Health in writing of 12
each use of seclusion or restraint on a minor, including the use of a chemical, 13
mechanical, or physical restraint. The psychiatric hospital shall notify the Department 14
of Health and the parent or guardian of the minor not later than 72 hours after the use of 15
seclusion or restraint. The notification provided by a psychiatric hospital regarding the 16
use of a chemical restraint must include the type of psychotropic medication used to 17
carry out the chemical restraint. 18
* Sec. 6. AS 47.32.900 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 19
(22) "chemical restraint" means a medication that is used to control the 20
behavior or to restrict the freedom of movement of a patient; "chemical restraint" does 21
not include the ongoing use of a medication for the treatment of symptoms of an 22
underlying psychiatric illness. 23
* Sec. 7. This Act takes effect July 1, 2027. 24